BOSTON — The Detroit Tigers need one win to clinch a spot in the postseason.
There are other scenarios, but the Tigers control their own destiny Saturday, Sept. 27, in the second of three games in the series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Right-hander Keider Montero will start Saturday’s game.
The Tigers announced Montero as their starter Saturday morning, making their decision after Friday’s game.
“He’s got all the pitches,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Obviously, strike-throwing is going to be super important for him. He’s going to be in attack mode. These types of games, and in these types of moments, Keider has a lot of energy to supply the game.”
Montero, 25, owns a 4.48 ERA with 31 walks and 65 strikeouts across 86⅓ innings in 19 games (11 starts) for the Tigers in 2025. He also had a 5.91 ERA over 42⅔ innings in 10 games (eight starts) with Triple-A Toledo.
If Montero struggles, the Tigers will open the door to the bullpen as early as necessary.
“It’s the most important game of the year,” Hinch said.
The Tigers took a 4-3 loss in Friday’s series opener against the Red Sox, in which right-hander Casey Mize allowed two runs on six hits and zero walks with eight strikeouts across 6⅓ innings. Left-hander Tarik Skubal is scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale, but only if the Tigers haven’t clinched a spot in the postseason.
A strong start from Montero would position the Tigers to punch their ticket in Saturday’s game — and save Skubal for Game 1 of the wild-card series.
Montero has a 3.38 ERA with four walks and seven strikeouts over eight innings in his past two starts, with the Tigers winning 2-0 over the Miami Marlins on Sept. 14 and losing 6-5 to the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 20.
This isn’t the first time Montero has pitched for the Tigers in an important game.
Montero appeared in two games in the 2024 ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians during the postseason, including one start. He fired three scoreless innings with zero walks and three strikeouts, but the Tigers lost the ALDS to the Guardians in five games.
“There’s a lot to draw from when you’re going out to pitch like this,” Hinch said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers starting pitcher is Keider Montero vs Red Sox as win clinches MLB postseason spot
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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